MOTHER COUNTRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1916, Page 5

MOTHER COUNTRY.

r THE BLACK LIST. Position of Britain. C t ' ' London. Nov. l-». keplying to the American Note which protested against the black list as an arbitrary interference with neutral trade, Viacount Grey reiterates that the Yfirohibition of trade applies only to British subjects and is indisputably withto'Britain's rights. Replying to the fears of a possibb rnwarranted expansion of the system. jViscount Grey points out that every jadditibn to the list restricts British .commercial opportunities, therefore it lis'Britain's interest to confine the iiit to the utmost. It is notorious that man) firms in neutral ;ountries have been active agents of German espionage and propaganda, have supplied German cruisers and organised and . pai.i Miscreants to destroy ships and factories which/liave Supplied the Allies. ■lt has been suggested that the military position is now such that nothing happening in distant neutral countries can affect the result. Viscount Grey wishes it w«re so, but there is still a long and bit|fr struggle ahead. The possible inconvenience, to neutrals' can not be compared for a moment with the sulfating and loss, occasioned to mankind by the prolongation of the war even for a week. Britain is fully entitled to refuse bunker coal to .ships learrving the goods of black-listed firms, Specially in view of Germany's efforts to-reduce the world's tonnage, rendering it necessary to reserve British coa! (is far as. possible for British trade. Between June 1 and September 30 lenemy submarines sank 262 vessels, of which OS were neutrals.

Vifcount Grey quotes American civil ■war precedents aR justification for the British action, and trusts the explanations given will remove the suspicion? and erroneous views prevailing in tin United States.;

SALE OF NIGERIAN PROPERTIES. STRINGENT CONDITIONS ;„:POSED. Received Nov. 15, 6.50 p.m. London, Nov. 14. There were exciting scenes at the sale of Nigerian properties, at which a crowd of business men were present, many o c them being hostile to the sale Before the sale the Colonial Office amended the conditions of auction, enabling Mr. Bonar I/r.v to disapprove of any purchase and end a contract without reasons being given, also enabling the Governor of tho colony to require any owner or lessee to prove thai he was not a trustee for any enemy subject or company under enemy control

QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT

In the Bouse of Commons Mr. Lyneb suggested the conscription of wealth. Mr. Bonar Law pointed out that the inei eased taxation had alreai. gone a long way in tkat direction. Mr. Mason naked for facilities fat dis cus.< Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's pw-e proposals.

Mr. Bonar Law said he was not awar=> that the Herman Chancellor has proposed any peace terms which were not based on p. German victory. No useful puipoaC would be served by such discussion. Mr. Bonar Law assured Mr Wedge•wood that the Colonial Office influence was directed to securing the largest possible man power from the Crown Colodies.

Received Nov. 15, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 14. In the House of Commons, Mr. Hope informed Sir E. Carson then was every reason to fear that the conditions of the British prisoners in Turkey were far from satisfactory, there being in some instances a. heavy mortality. The Turks •had declined to allow the American authorities to visit the prisoners. . Lord Robert Cecil, replying to, Mr. AY. W. Ashley, said that, roughly speaking M. Venizelos' authority exists over newGreece and the islands, where the Allies treated M. Venizelos as a de facto authority. The Athens Government had jurisdiction over old Greece. Mr. Hope further stated, in reply to Mr. Ashley, that the number of German prisoners in our hands according to incomplete returns were:—Army: 533 of- ' fleers and 42,062 men. Navy: 132 officers, 1062 man. British prisoners in German hands, including colonials and Indians. were:—Army: Officers 1027, men 28,73?. Navy: Officers and men, including the naval division, 3101. HONORS FOR NEW ZEALANDERS . London, Nov. 14. 1 The Distinguished Service Order awards includs Captain Stanes, a New Zealander* Five New Zealanders receive Military Medals, and two New Zealanders Distinzuished Conduct » ...A a.sh-r J .;_